Foundation garment



March 3, 1959 Filed Jan. 27, 1956 A. MARCHISELLA FOUNDATION GARMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Americo Marchisel la JL M- AT TORNEY March 1959 A. MARCHISELLA 2,875,763

FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed Jan. 27, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Americo Marchisella JAE ATTORNEY March 3, 1959 A. MARCHISELLA ,8

FOUNDATION GARMENT I 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed Jan. 27, 1956 FIG.3

Ki l INVENTOR. Americo Marchisella BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,875,763 FOUNDATION GARMENT Application January 27, 1956, Serial No. 561,775

Claims. (*Cl. 128-432) This invention relates to elastic, figure-conforming undergarments ;of."the. foundation type, such as. corselets, girdles, and panty girdles, and, more particularly, to a garment of this type embodying a novel, normally closed slit opening enabling the wearer to perform natural functions without removing the garment.

In accordance with the invention, a foundation type garment is provided with relatively long legsections formed by gores at the inner sides of the legs extending upwardly from the lower edges of the legs a much greater distance than normal. These longer leg sections provide for better conforming fit of the garment to the wearers thighs, resulting in better control of the garment position and fit on the body.

To provide the normally closed slit opening, one leg of the garment terminates, at its upper inner edge, some what short of the vertical center-line or seam of the garment. The other leg of the garment is extended, at its upper inner edge, substantially beyond such center line to overlap the upper inner edge of the shorter leg 3. substantial distance, and the upper inner edge of this longer leg is formed of elastic material which prevents the edge rolling over due to pressures exerted by the figure while the wearer is walking.

As a result of the foregoing constructional features,

the slit opening is not only offset to one side of the center line of the garment but is also substantially longer than provided in present garments of this type. In addition, the fit of the garment at the legs is maintained stable at all times and the garment will not open during normal wear. However, when the wearer is in a sitting position, the garment can be readily and easily opened for performance of normal functions. For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Figs. 1 and 2 are, respectively, front and back elevation views of the garment, illustrating the garment closed; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of the garment in the open position.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a foundation garment of the corselet type combining a brassiere section and a girdle section. Garment 10 includes front center panel sections 11, 11, of natural or artificial silk, satin, nylon, or similar material, joined by a front central seam 12 to form a substantially diamond shape front panel 15. The outer edges of panel 15 are joined by seams 13 to side panels 20, of elastic material. The rear edges of panels 20 are joined by seams 21 to a lower rear panel 30, of the same material as panel 15, and an upper rear panel 22 of elastic material.

The upper edge of panel 22 is coextensive with the upper rear and side edges of side panels 20 to form a side and back upper hemline 23 for the garment. The

2,875,763 Patented Mar. 3, 1959 2. lower edge of panel 22 is V-shape and joined to the conforming upper edge of panel 30 by a seam 24. The front upper edges of side panels 20 are curved downwardly and inwardly from the ends of hemline 23 to the apex of front panel 15 for joining to the brassiere section generally indicated at 40.

Brassiere section 40 includes a body panel 41, having its lower edge connected to the upper front edges of side panels 20 by a seam 42, and cups each comprising a lower section 43 and an upper section 44!. Sections 43 are joined to panel 41 by seams 46, and seams 47 interconnect sections 43 and 44. Panel41 and lower cup sections 43 are preferablyof the same material as panels 15 and 30, whereas upper cup sections 44 are preferably lace. Straps 45 extend between hemline 23 and the up per edges of cup sections 44.

In accordance with the invention, the lower inner front edges of side panels 20 are formed with curved cutouts extending upwardly a substantial distance and inwardly to the lower edges of. panel 15. The lower points of panel sections 11, 11 are cut off on curved lines 14 forming a continuation of the curved lower inner edges 25 of panels 20. This construction forms a semi-oval recess extending centrally upward from the lower front edge of the garment. Similarly, the lower rear panel 30 is formed with a semi-oval central recess 31 in its lower edge, conforming substantially in shape, size and location to the similar recess in the front of the garment. The resulting extensions 26, on the lower ends of side panels 20, and extensions 32 on the lower end of panel 30, form the outer portions of legs 50 and 50', these outer portions being of elastic material for the major part.

Leg 50' is completed on its inner side by a panel or gore 55', preferably of the, same material as panels 15 and 30. As best seen in Fig. 3, the upper inner edge 56 of gore 55 is somewhat short of the vertical center line of garment 10. The longer leg 50 has the main portion of its inner side formed by a panel or gore 55 whose inner edge 56 is at the center line of the garment. Gore 55 is likewise preferably of the same material as panels 15' and 30.

However, in accordance with the invention, the edge 56 of gore 55 is joined by seam 12 (carried around to the rear of garment 10) to a relatively narrow strip 57, of the same material, partially overlapping gore 55'. A strip 58 of elastic material is stitched to the inner edge of strip 57 in overlapping relation with gore 55'.

In the normal wear of the garment, the long legs 50, 50' maintain the garment properly positioned on the thighs irrespective of figure movement. Leg 50 overlaps leg 50 so that elastic strip 58 maintains the inner edge of gore 55 in position and also prevents rolling of the edges of the legs due to figure movement.

The slit is maintained positively closed at all times except when purposefully opened. When the wearer is seated, the edge 58 of leg 50 may be easily pulled to one side to provide a long opening between the legs permitting full freedom for performance of natural functions.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A foundation type undergarment comprising front, back, and side portions, including elastic fabric, united to form a structure adapted to supportingly and conformingly embrace at least the lower portion of the trunk; said garment being extended at each side of its lower end to form relatively elongated legs adapted to engage the front, back, and outer side of each thigh; and a pair ofpanels each completing one leg and each adapted to extend a substantial distance upwardly along and engage the inner side of one thigh, and then to extend inwardly, the upper edge or one panelterminating short of the vertical centerline'of the garment; and the other panel" extending substantially beyond the vertical centerline of thegarment to overlap the upper edge of such one' panel to form a normally closed openable slit in the garment substantially above the lower edges of said panels.

2. An undergarment as claimed in claim 1 in which the front and back portions of the garment are formed with deep. semi-oval recesses extending substantially cen trally upwardly. from the lower edge thereof to provide the front; back, and. outer side of each leg; said panels connecting. the corresponding edges" of the front and back recesses.

3'. An undergarment as claimed in claim 2 in which said panels comprise non-elastic material; and a strip of elastic material extendingithroughout the upper edge of such other panel and normally overlapping said one panel; said elastic strip maintaining said panels against displacement'due to figure motion.

4. A foundation type undergarment comprising front, back, and sideportions, including elastic fabric, united to. forma structure adapted to supportingly and conformingly' embrace at, least the lower portion of the trunk; said garment being extended at each side of its lower end toform relatively elongated legs, including elastic ma terial, adapted to engage the front, back, and outer side of, eachthigh; and a'pair of panels eachv completing one legfand, each adapted. to extend a substantial distance 4 upwardly along and engage the inner side of one thigh, and then to extend inwardly, the upperedge of one" panel terminating short of the vertical centerline of the garment; the other panel extending substantially beyond the vertical centerline of the garment to embracingly overlap the upper edge of such one panel and having its upper edge constituted by a strip of elastic material extending longitudinally along such edge, to form a normally closed openable slit in the garment substantially above the lower edges of said panels; said elastic strip maintaining said panels against displacementdue to figure motion.

5. An undergarment as claimed in claim 1 in which said portions include front and rear panelsof non-elastic material, andside panelsof elastic material; and scams interconnecting said panels, one of said beams extending centrally and vertically of the front of the garment and continuing through such other panel to the rear of the garment.

References Cited in'the file of thispatefit' UNITED STATES PATENT S 2,437,830 McAllister Mar. 16,. 1948 2,468,346 Rayden Apr. 26, 1949 2,476,585 Cohen July. 19,1949 2,522,009 Wohlman Sept. 12,1950 2,529,115 Thalman Nov. 7, 1 950 2,569,229 Cooper Sept. 25, 1951 2,587,911 Side! Mar. 4, 1952 2,717,388 Rutledge Sept. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 743,895- France e c Jan. 25, 1952 

